Method for attaching a watchband to a watch case

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a device for attaching a wristlet ( 1 ) to a watchcase including a middle part ( 2 ) fitted with a pair of attachment horns ( 2   e ) for the wristlet ( 1 ), this device allowing instantaneous attaching and detaching of a strand of the wristlet ( 1 ) to the middle part ( 2 ) without using a tool and without any particular knowledge or visual inspection, characterized in that one of the ends of the wristlet is attached to a plate ( 4 ) including two pairs of catches ( 1   a,    1   b,    1   c,    1   d ) arranged respectively along the longitudinal edges of the plate ( 4 ), and co-operating with two pairs of grooves ( 2   a,    2   b,    2   c,    2   d ) provided in lateral faces of the horns ( 2   e ).

The present invention concerns a device for attaching a bracelet orwristlet to a watchcase including a middle part fitted with a pair ofhorns for attaching the wristlet, and more particularly a device of thistype allowing the wristlet to be interchanged simply, without usingtools and without risking damaging the watchcase and/or the wristlet.

Generally, watch wristlets are fixed onto watchcases with horns by meansof bars onto which the strands of the wristlet are attached, the ends ofthe bars being fixed to the horns of the watchcase. The most commonlyused bars are called spring bars and include two pivots at their ends.The pivots are mobile within a central tube and are subjected to theaction of a spring housed within the tube which pushes them outwards.The horns are respectively fitted with holes in which the bar pivotsenter. Both horns are parallel to each other and generally spaced apartby 10 to 20 mm.

Such a system for attaching the wristlet to the case has the drawback ofgenerally requiring the intervention of a specialist for detaching thewristlet when the latter has to be replaced by another one. Further,this detaching operation is performed with the aid of a tool, forexample tweezers or a knife, which risks damaging the watchcase. Thissystem is consequently not very satisfactory and does not meet currentmarket requirements which demand wristlet attaching devices allowingusers easily to replace their wristlet with another by themselves. Onemay also wish to adapt the type of wristwatch to the circumstances atany time of the day and thus to be able to change the wristlet easilyoneself, for example to have a wristlet matching the colour of one'sclothes.

A main object of the invention is thus to overcome the drawbacks of theaforementioned prior art by providing a secure and inexpensive devicefor rapidly attaching a watch wristlet, which can easily be implementedby the user himself, which fits any type of wristlet and which does notimpair the aesthetic appearance of the watch.

The invention thus concerns a device for attaching a wristlet to awatchcase including a middle part comprising a pair of attachment hornsfor the wristlet, this device allowing instantaneous attaching anddetaching of a wristlet strand to the middle part without using a tooland without any particular knowledge or visual inspection, characterisedin that one of the ends of the wristlet is attached to a plate includingtwo pairs of catches, and co-operating with two pairs of groovesprovided in lateral faces of the horns.

As a result of these features, the user can easily detach or attach thewristlet to a watchcase by inserting the catches into the grooves withwhich they are associated and wedging them on the bottom of saidgrooves.

Another advantage of the present attaching device lies in the fact thatthe points of connection of the wristlet to the watchcase are multipliedby two, providing fast and reliable attachment.

A further advantage of the present attaching device lies in the factthat it may be used without discrimination with flexible straps, forexample made of leather or fabric, and with metal link bracelets.

According to one feature of the invention, each pair of grooves includesa rectilinear groove and a curved groove having a rectilinear insertionportion extended by a return portion.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the catches arearranged respectively along the longitudinal edges of said plate and thegrooves are arranged on the lateral walls of the horns facing eachother.

Other advantages and features of the invention will appear more clearlyupon reading the following description of an embodiment of the inventiongiven solely by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, saiddescription being made with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the attachment device according to theinvention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are partial cross-sections showing the shapes of thegrooves arranged in the device of the invention; and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show respectively in order, the relative positions ofthe catches in the grooves during assembly of the wristlet to awatchcase using an attachment device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a watchcase including a middlepart 2 and one end of a wristlet 1 intended to be attached in a hingedmanner to middle part 2 using the device according to the invention.Middle part 2 includes two pairs of attachment horns 2 e for wristlet 1,a single pair of said horns 2 e being shown in FIG. 1. The two pairs ofhorns 2 e are placed in a conventional manner on opposite sides ofmiddle part 2, at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock. Within the context of theinvention, “horns” shall be understood to mean any element of any shapeused to attach wristlet 1 to the watchcase. These horns 2 e may matchthe general shape of middle part 2, but not necessarily. It will benoted that attachment elements which are barely fastened to middle part2, or not attached to the middle part at all, or which are added ontothe watchcase, are also included in this general definition of “horns”.

According to this new invention, the holes within horns 2 e are replacedby two pairs of grooves 2 a, 2 b and 2 c, 2 d. Grooves 2 b and 2 c arestraight/rectilinear and vertical, while grooves 2 a and 2 d are curved,thus allowing wristlet 1 to be guided until it is wedged. Curved grooves2 a, 2 d have a rectilinear insertion portion extended by a returnportion. Rectilinear grooves 2 b, 2 c are proximal and curved grooves 2a and 2 d are distal relative to middle part 2. As is shown particularlyclearly in FIG. 3, the return portions extend towards the exterior ofmiddle part 2 and the rectilinear insertion portion and the returnportion preferably form an acute angle with each other, typically of theorder of 45°.

According to the invention, wristlet 1 includes a plate 4, preferablyrigid and slightly curved, matching the shape of the wrist and fittedwith four catches 1 a, 1 b, 1 c and 1 d which will be inserted ingrooves 2 a, 2 b, 2 c and 2 d arranged within horns 2 e, more preciselyon the lateral walls of said horns 2 e facing each other. Catches 1 a, 1b, 1 c and 1 d are preferably arranged at the free end of plate 4 andare disposed respectively along the external longitudinal edges of saidplate.

Said catches 1 a, 1 b, 1 c and 1 d can be made industrially in the formof through pins, catches welded or set on plate 4 or attached thereto byany other means, or they may also form an integral part of plate 4.Plate 4 may also be perforated, grooved or indented to facilitate thefitting of any type of wristlet (made of leather, metal, plastic,fabric, rubber, etc.). Since plate 4 is identical on each side of middlepart 2, it is thus possible to reverse each half wristlet in order tosatisfy the requirements of right-handed and left-handed users. Sinceplates 4 should preferably be rigid, the use of any material allowingthis may be envisaged.

With reference to the drawings, for the operation of this new invention,it is sufficient to place plate 4 between horns 2 e of middle part 2, toslide catches 1 d and 1 a into grooves 2 a and 2 d, then to pull plate 4upwards and to the right as is shown in FIG. 4, by rocking plate 4downwards, catches 1 a and 1 d then coming automatically to the bottomof grooves 2 a and 2 d while lifting catches 1 b and 1 c into grooves 2b and 2 c as is shown in FIG. 5. By continuing the same movement,catches 1 b, 1 c automatically rise and abut the bottom of grooves 2 b,2 c thereby instantaneously attaching plate 4, and thus wristlet 1, tomiddle part 2, and thus to the watch, without any securing device, as isshown in FIG. 6. The final stage of fastening comprises attaching thewatch to the wrist.

In order to remove plate 4 from the watch, or in other words, frommiddle part 2, it is sufficient to perform the manoeuvre in reverse.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention which is notshown, a stop in the form of a ball for example biased by a spring, abump or any other mechanical means may be added onto middle part 2 orplate 4.

The shape of middle part 1, horns 2 e and plate 4 and the proportionsthereof are obviously not limiting.

The invention provides:

rapid, secure and easy attachment of a wristlet to a watch without usinga tool;

stability of the wristwatch on the wrist without gripping the latterexcessively;

twice the normal security and robustness (four connection points insteadof two generally).

What is claimed is:
 1. Device for attaching a wristlet (1) to awatchcase including a middle part (2) fitted with a pair of attachmenthorns (2 e) for the wristlet (1), said device allowing instantaneousattaching and detaching of a strand of the wristlet (1) to the middlepart (2) without using a tool and without any particular knowledge orvisual inspection, characterised in that one of the ends of the wristlet(1) is attached to a plate (4) including two pairs of catches (1 a, 1 b,1 c, 1 d), and co-operating with two pairs of grooves (2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2d) provided in lateral faces of the horns (2 e).
 2. Attachment deviceaccording to claim 1, characterised in that each pair of grooves (2 a, 2b, 2 c, 2 d) includes a rectilinear groove and a curved groove having arectilinear insertion portion extended by a return portion. 3.Attachment device according to claim 2, characterised in that therectilinear groove is proximal and the curved groove is distal relativeto the middle part (2).
 4. Attachment device according to claim 2,characterised in that the return extends towards the exterior of themiddle part (2).
 5. Attachment device according to claim 2,characterised in that the rectilinear insertion portion and the returnportion form an acute angle.
 6. Attachment device according to claim 1,characterised in that the pairs of catches (1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d) arearranged at the free end of the plate (4).
 7. Attachment deviceaccording to claim 1, characterised in that the catches are disposedrespectively along the external longitudinal edges of said plate and inthat the grooves (2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d) are arranged on the lateral wallsof the horns (2 e) facing each other.
 8. Attachment device according toclaim 1, characterised in that the plate (4) is rigid and curved. 9.Attachment device according to any of the preceding claims,characterised in that a stop in the form of a ball is arranged on themiddle part (2) or the plate (4) to hold said plate in position. 10.Attachment device according to claim 3, characterized in that the returnextends towards the exterior of the middle part (2).
 11. Attachmentdevice according to claim 3, characterized in that the rectilinearinsertion portion and the return portion form an acute angle. 12.Attachment device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pairsof catches (1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d) are arranged at the free end of theplate (4).
 13. Attachment device according to claim 3, characterized inthat the pairs of catches (1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d) are arranged at the freeend of the plate (4).
 14. Attachment device according to claim 4,characterized in that the pairs of catches (1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d) arearranged at the free end of the plate (4).
 15. Attachment deviceaccording to claim 5, characterized in that the pairs of catches (1 a, 1b, 1 c, 1 d) are arranged at the free end of the plate (4). 16.Attachment device according to claim 2, characterized in that thecatches are disposed respectively along the external longitudinal edgesof said plate and in that the grooves (2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d) are arrangedon the lateral walls of the horns (2 e) facing each other. 17.Attachment device according to claim 6, characterized in that thecatches are disposed respectively along the external longitudinal edgesof said plate and in that the grooves (2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d) are arrangedon the lateral walls of the horns (2 e) facing each other. 18.Attachment device according to claim 2, characterized in that the plate(4) is rigid and curved.
 19. Attachment device according to claim 3,characterized in that the plate (4) is rigid and curved.
 20. Attachmentdevice according to claim 2, characterized in that a stop in the form ofa ball is arranged on the middle part (12) or the plate (4) to hold saidplate in position.